Are you a panic buyer?

[Insideimsprinting]

Just that really. I would Just like to know why. There are lots of threads about people finding it ridiculous and not being able to get their normal shop, we're being told there is no need so why have you done it? Can you explain your panic, fear? Especially since its not happening across the board with all food stuffs andjust certain items.
Why toilet roll and not washing up liquid, shower gel etc, why pasta but not pasta sauces c why beans but not tinned soup etc

I’m not a panic buyer but, as a result of them, will be needing to go to the supermarket(s) today to try find some toilet roll as my usual Sainsbury’s delivery wasn’t able to bring any. Running low(ish) on nappies too so I’m off searching for them. Absolutely dreading it!

The was no panic in my prepping activities that I started at the end of January, I had encouraged my family to do the same too, knowing the full scale of the absolute catastrophe we would soon be facing.

Clearing the shelves now is not a good idea, however we live in a world where we can get whatever we want whenever we want. That is about to change and we have no idea for how long, so the sudden realisation of the herd of what is to come will bring chaos. Good luck everyone.

No panic buying here. We pick up an extra item or two each time we go out. However, we don't have the storage for much so will just carry on getting one or two extra items at a time.

We buy concentrated cleaning products (Splosh) and soap online and we always have a good stock of these as they don't take much room. We bought those a week early as I'm away with work next week and won't have time to order.

If everyone without additional needs did the same it would be a lot better. Poorer people are really going to suffer.

Just got back from my weekly Aldi shop and there's loads of panic buying going on. I only went in for baby wipes ( for my 6 month old) but there weren't any so got cotton wool pads instead.
There were people taking whole cases of soya milk, bottled water and kitchen roll as there was no loo roll.
I worry for people with allergies to certain food groups because when there's no ling life milk panic buyers will start stockpiling the alternatives as the lady grabbing all the soya milk said she was getting it because there was no uht stuff left.
A few years ago that would have thrown me into a panic as my now 4 yr old was dairy intolerant and soya milk was one alternative she liked.

Asian stores around about us still have large stocks as they sell wholesale and larger than normal packs so if anyone is really struggling find an Asian supermarket!

I always have lots of essentials “in stock” however, lately i had been getting slack due to lack of space so was not prepped with things like pasta when the virus became “real”. I didn’t panic but I made it a priority to source the foods that we could eat and that keep well. Also my kids are prolific loo roll abusers so we go through a lot. I now have 80 rolls - not as much as some but more than others. I got them from the cash and carry NOT the shops. I’ve got a few hand soaps but probably not enough, I already had sanitizers as I’m a germ phobic. We use long life milk all the time so already had a supply. I’ll now buy fresh to use until or if I can’t get out. I’ve got 3 freezers anyway so they were mostly stocked already. I make my own bread so got 3 bags of flour instead of 1. I’m not sure it really is panic out there I think it’s just everyone wanting the same things at the same time!

Not really no. We picked up one extra bag of pasta, one rice, 4 tins of tomatoes and 2 tins of beans an extra pack of loo rolls and 2 boxes of paracetamol. If we have to self isolate then we have enough food in for 14 days. I really don't think we have gone overboard like some but just made sure we are covered if the worst should happen.

I can't afford to buy double the amount or anything but I'm stocking up slowly to last a few weeks for a few meals. Luckily only me and two small boys and we don't eat massive amounts!

I've bought lots of extra frozen veg that'll last weeks (plenty in Morrisons yesterday). I'm just really struggling to find certain packs of Quorn (chicken pieces, mince) which is what I use for loads of our meals. I'm going out today to try and get some. Even if it's the Supermarket own meat free brand. And more frozen fish. And Eggs - my boys would live off eggy bread!

I don't think anyone is going to starve. People will still have their phones/internet to reach out to someone if they run out of all food and can have packets/tins left on the doorstep.

The handwash/soap shelves were the only bare ones. I managed to find a couple of solid bar soaps hidden at the bottom (only cheapest left) and the kids are loving it like it's a novelty! Slippy solid soap!

I wonder if people are clearing out LUSH?

Also my reasoning is - do I want to be queuing outside Tesco when they’re only allowing 10 people inside like in Italy?

This thread has been done a million times. I am a panic buyer in the sense that we normally don’t have much food in the house beyond what we actually eat, and last weekend

Posted too soon... last weekend I did a big shop for spare tinned/long life food to last us a week or so. It’s pretty obvious why I did it - so we don’t have to worry about food if we have to self isolate and can’t get to the shops.

I work in a supermarket and I haven’t seen any hysterical stockpiling going through the checkout but the volume of customers is much higher and everyone is buying just an extra couple of certain items which is causing our shortages. I do wonder when it will ever get back to normal on the shelves, even when everyone just goes back to their normal weekly shop when all of this is over, months down the line it will take ages for the supermarket supply to get back to full shelves.

We always run with spares of most things that will keep. Nothing more annoying than an unusually warm spell and running out of washing powder or running out of shampoo mid shower. We haven't bought extra, but depending how long this goes on for might start to get concerned if we can't restock. We're mostly eating fresh food which is still in good supply and keeping freezer/cupboard stock 'in case'.

I was out panic buying this week. Mainly the reason is not wanting to run out of viral supplies. Just been buying what's available really.

Vital! Vital supplies

Because we are sitting ducks waiting for the virus.
It’s something people can actually do, it’s something they can control.

It is infectious, people are now panic buying because of the panic buying meaning they can’t get things they would normally.

Not everyone (I’d imagine that’s most people where I am) has cupboard space to stock pile, or prep. So they are left to panic buy

Someone on my Facebook is moaning about panic buyers but equally she has been 'strategic shopping' which I think I'd the same. She's not been prepping, which is completely different as it's over time and doesn't strip the shelves.

No. I'm just worried than when things I need run out I won't be able to buy them.

You do realise it's an irregular verb?

I make prudent strategic provision
You're some strange kind of "prepper"
She is a selfish sociopathic panic buyer

I've had a stockpile for a couple of years now, I have a shelving unit under there stairs where I store dry food, snacks and toiletries. The weather can get pretty bad where I am and there have been a couple of times I've been snowed in, so I need an emergency backup. I'm still just doing a normal weekly shop though, I'm not buying any extra. How it works for me is, I take stuff from my food storage and then my weekly shop replaces what I've used. It took a little while to build up, but it's something that is needed for me.

Stockpiling is a form of panic buying because if everyone 'stock piles' the effect is the same, things run out more quickly

It's really not. I have been stockpiling since China introduced lockdowns. I'm on a low income and am a single parent. Me buying a little bit extra each time I went shopping caused no problems to the supply chain. How do I know this? Because there was plenty of everything left on the shelves.

It's people that laughed at the preppers and carried on as normal that are the problem. They're now the ones clearing the shelves. Apparently there are no tinned tomatoes left in our local supermarket! I get through about 4 tins a week, luckily I have some in the cupboard.

The preppers won't be out shopping this weekend, so by planning ahead we've actually reduced demand on this crazy weekend. And it's only going to get worse.

I’m a panic buyer, and bought lots of extra tinned goods, tissues, toilet roll, flour, oil and pasta online two weeks ago. Plus sanitary products and toothpaste. What we consider essentials I suppose. My doctor sister did the same, and is continuing to do so. We are doing it because if we get ill, we won’t be able to leave the house. And we were influenced by the panic buying of others (we were too late for hand sanitiser for example). We didn’t buy a huge amount, but it was definitely panic buying, and much more than usual.

I do feel like an idiot though, and incredibly guilty with regards to those who can’t afford to stock up. But too selfish as regards my own children and parents to stop me having done it.

Sorry if you can’t buy toilet roll or tinned beans - I am definitely part of the problem and am ashamed of it. But, as I say, ultimately selfish.

Not a panic buyer at all but I did get two packs of toilet paper last week (from two different shops) as I was panicking that I may not be able to find any in future. So with my two packs I did contribute. Otherwise not at all.

@OldUnit That’s my local Morrisons!!!!!!

I work in a supermarket and I haven’t seen any hysterical stockpiling going through the checkout but the volume of customers is much higher and everyone is buying just an extra couple of certain items which is causing our shortages. I do wonder when it will ever get back to normal.

"Panic buying "

Someone on my Facebook is moaning about panic buyers but equally she has been 'strategic shopping' which I think I'd the same. She's not been prepping, which is completely different as it's over time and doesn't strip the shelves.

First rule - other people'panic buy' you just buy more in preparation.

2nd rule - when you can't get what you need it's because of panic buying.